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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Strauss - Wagner - Mahler
On this new CD the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks under the direction of Peter Dijkstra presents itself a cappella in works by Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler and Richard Wagner. Magnificent tone paintings like “Isoldes Liebestod” (“Isolde’s Love-Death”) and the “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen” (“Songs of a Wayfarer”) radiate a new unprecedented glory in transcriptions for 16-part chorus by Clytus Gottwald. Thanks to its special tonal homogeneity and stylistic versatility, this ensemble enjoys the highest regard throughout the world. Dutch conductor Peter Dijkstra – the artistic director of the ensemble since 2005 – is the shooting star on the choral scene and has presented the ensemble together with both BR orchestras in a number of versatile programs. - Purely Chorus! The BR-Chor presents itself a cappella - Warm, crystal-clear choral sound - “Classics” from the late romantic era in unusual transcriptions - Recent recordings from 2009 and 2011 “Formidably assured singing.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2012 **** | | | (also available to download from $11.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Strauss - A Cappella
Acclaimed choral and orchestral conductor, Laurence Equilbey, conducts the Latvian Radio Choir along with her own fantastic professional ensemble, Accentus, in a recording showcasing the brilliance of Richard Strauss’ choral music. This release highlights the inspiration of Bavarian poet Friedrich Rückert upon the choral writing of Richard Strauss. Glimpses of this influence can be found in the ‘Hymne’ from op.34 and the other choruses on this disc, among them the ambitious masterpiece that is Deutsche Motette (German Motet) op.62, the peak of Straussian choral art. The chamber choir Accentus was founded by Laurence Equilbey in 1991, and is now recognised as one of the leading ensembles in Europe. Accentus' recording of Fauré’s Requiem, released last year, was shortlisted for the 2009 Gramophone Awards in the 'Choral' category. “...technically brilliant and utterly ravishing...performed with high accomplishment by combined professional chamber choirs.” Sunday Times, 29th November 2009 “Hearing exquisite Straussian tonal twists sung with such precision and evident love is a treat for both ear and heart. …the Deutsche Motette feels like a near-impossible fusion of the spirit of Tallis's 40-part Spem in alium with the loveliest pages of Strauss's own Daphne or Ariadne auf Naxos. And conductor Laurence Equilbey and her singers seem equally responsive to both extremes. Incredibly the piece's huge span seems just right - not a moment overlong. The opening couple of minutes of the first of the Zwei Gesänge, 'Der Abend' (Evening) constitute perhaps the most beautiful thing on the whole disc...” BBC Music Magazine, February 2010 ***** “This a fine choir - or combination of choirs - tone both gentle and firm, and with a sensitivity to the shadings and modulations so richly characteristic of Strauss's choral writing.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2010 | | | (also available to download from $11.00) | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Strauss - Nono - Wagner
Mikhail Nikiforov (Bass), Alexander Yudenkov (Tenor), Ulrike Becker (Alto), Torsten Müller (Bass), Eva-Maria Schappé (Soprano) Percussionists of Strasbourg, Southwest German Radio Vocal Ensemble, Stuttgart, Marcus Creed This recording presents three different, utterly contrasting responses to the quest for expression and the solution to the old problem of how to merge text and music into a unity. The common theme linking these compositions, "The Passion and Pains of Love", has been wrested from the texts of these choral works: they are poetic declarations of love, descriptions of nature with erotic and intimate imagery, poems that speak of unfulfilled yearning and breaking hearts. Their poetic quality opens a range of expression every bit as varied as the three musical settings they stimulated. “…unearthly purity of upper voices as the god of Strauss's and Schiller's evening picture descends sets the scene very well indeed. More exciting of all are the climaxes of the real novelties here, Clytus Gottwald's arrangements of the two Wesendonck Lieder which Wagner transfigures in Tristan. ...both settings open out dazzlingly. Sopranos hit spot-on top Ds both here and in a very substantial bonus, Gottwald's even more successful treatment of 'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen' from Mahler's Rückert Lieder.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2006 ***** | | | (also available to download from $11.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Abendlied19th century Romantic German part-songs and motets
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R. Strauss: A Cappella Choral Works
Tina Kiberg (soprano), Randi Stene (contralto), Gert Henning Jensen (tenor), Ulrik Cold (bass) Copenhagen Boys' Choir, Danish National Radio Chamber Choir, Danish National Choir/DR, Stefan Parkman “Under Stefan Parkman the Danish National Radio Choir has established a reputation second to none. Parkman handles his singers as if they were a fully fledged symphony orchestra; which isn't at all inappropriate in this programme by the supreme master of orchestral colour.
From the heart of the 16 chorus parts of the Deutsche Motette a further seven are projected by solo voices emerging imperceptibly from the midst of a dense, luxuriant texture. The depth of colour and range of emotions are every bit as extensive in these works as in the great orchestral tone-poems; indeed few orchestral tonepoems evoke dusk and sunset so vividly as 'Der Abend', the first of the 1897 Zwei Gesänge.
There's a wonderfully luminous soundscape here; a combination of superb compositional skill, sensitive musical direction, superlative choral singing and a warm, full-bodied recording.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | (also available to download from $11.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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